The Hindu : Sport : Delhi Daredevils starts favourites

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport

Delhi Daredevils starts favourites

Kolkata Knight Riders in disarray after six losses in eight games

— PHOTO: AFP

TIME TO FIRE: Kolkata Knight Riders needs a big one from Sourav Ganguly to overcome Delhi Daredevils.

Durban: Delhi Daredevils will be the overwhelming favourites against Kolkata Knight Riders, a team in disarray after six losses in eight matches, when the two sides lock horns in an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match here on Tuesday.

A defeat against Chennai Super Kings in its last match notwithstanding, the Virender Sehwag-led Delhi Daredevils should have it easy, given Kolkata Knight Riders’ misery in the Twenty20 event so far.

The team’s pathetic display has left its owner Shah Rukh Khan so disappointed that he refused to come here and support Brendon McCullum and his men until they start winning.

Given Kolkata’s form, it seems unlikely that Shah Rukh Khan would make the trip.

To make matters worse, Kolkata Knight Riders will go into Tuesday’s match without Chris Gayle, the West Indian opener who has left for national duty against England. His departure comes as a huge blow to the team, which desperately needs skipper McCullum and Sourav Ganguly to strike form.

Brad Hodge did well with a half-century against Kings XI Punjab, but his solo effort could not win it the match and it is unlikely to do so even in the coming games.

With the batsmen putting up a dismal show, Kolkata Knight Riders’ bowlers have been left to make amends on most occasions, but even the best of efforts of Ishant Sharma has not been able to compensate for the batsmen’ shoddy performance.

Big concern

Delhi Daredevils also has its share of problems with Sehwag’s form and fitness being a concern. The right-hander picked up a finger injury recently which kept him out of the match against Chennai Super Kings.

Sehwag has been struggling with the bat as well, having scored just 87 runs in the five matches he has played so far.

Fellow opener Gautam Gambhir has not been in very good touch either and Delhi Daredevils needs the explosive duo to fire to go far in the tournament.

Much to its relief, David Warner sizzled on his IPL debut and it would be a difficult, if not unfair, job now to drop the explosive Australian.

Delhi Daredevils’ problems in fact pale in comparison to Kolkata Knight Riders’ woes. The team’s on-field flop-show has taken a toll on the dressing room environment as well and Kolkata seems a house divided.

McCullum is wilting under the pressure of leading a side in turmoil and has already made it known that he would step down if he fails to take Kolkata Knight Riders to the semifinals.

But in a format best described as unpredictable, the laggards cannot be dismissed altogether even if they are up against a team, which has been described by many as the most balanced among the eight in fray. — PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport